Haas F1 can improve without upgrades – Steiner

Haas F1 Team will be focusing more on their 2017 season rather than upgrading their current VF-16, according to Team Principal Guenther Steiner.

The American-led outfit believe they can fight for points positions with their rivals without bringing few, if any, upgrades to their car. In their debut at the Australian Grand Prix, Frenchman Romain Grosjean finished in sixth and then followed that success with fifth at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Despite picking up a total of four points in the following four Grand Prix, Steiner is positive that Haas can finish within the points even though there is little development planned for this season for them, with their focus now shifting towards 2017 development.

“I’ve always said the updates doesn’t help us,” said Steiner. “There is more in the car to come. The others brought updates but we kept up with them, we didn’t lose, we’re actually gaining at the moment.

“We’ve brought our fair share of updates – small ones – and we will bring a few more, but not a lot. I think all the other midfield teams have stopped now bringing updates.

“The next platform of car is there for the next five years, and this car is here for another 15 races, so where do you put your focus? Obviously on the next five years. So therefore we’ve decided to shift quite heavily into ’17 development.”